Jafar Panahi, an Iranian director, held a press conference after receiving the ‘Asian Filmmaker of the Year’ award at the 30th Busan International Film Festival. Despite having a distinguished career with numerous awards from major film festivals such as Cannes, Venice, and Berlin, his life has also been marked by periods of imprisonment, house arrest, travel bans, and bans on filmmaking.
During his short stay in Korea, Panahi visited the grave of the late Kim Ji-seok, an influential programmer who had supported him, especially during his difficult years when he was banned from leaving Iran. Panahi cherished Kim Ji-seok, who encouraged him during his struggles. The director shared his thoughts with reporters in Busan, recalling how he met Kim when he first participated in the Busan Film Festival with his debut film “The White Balloon” and how they became close friends.
Panahi’s latest film, “Only an Accident,” which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, was chosen to represent France at the Academy Awards. However, this decision highlights the challenges faced by filmmakers in closed countries like Iran, where government approval is required for such nominations. Panahi expressed a need for solidarity among independent filmmakers to overcome these hurdles.
The director described his filmmaking process as a constant struggle, especially under the constraints imposed by Iranian censorship, which requires scripts to be submitted for government approval. Despite being banned from making films for 20 years, Panahi has found ways to create films independently, such as through the documentary “This Is Not a Film” (2011) and the film “Taxi” (2015), shot in secrecy.
Panahi also emphasized the importance of making films that invite the audience to follow a filmmaker’s vision rather than only catering to audience demand. He believes that while most films are made to meet audience preferences, those that challenge viewers to engage with the director’s ideas provide a unique experience. His film “Only an Accident” is set to premiere in Korea on October 1st, ahead of its global release.